Surgical appliance



May 18 1926.

R. D. FOULKE SURGICAL APPLIANCE Filed Sept'. 18, 1922 V i A d INVENTOR BY l y?? ATTORNEY Patented May 18, 1926.

UNITED STATES hsel PATENT FFEC..

ROY D. FOULKE, 0F WARSAW, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO WINIFRED DE PUY, OF WARSAW', NDANA.

SURGICAL APPLIANCE.

Application filed September This invention relates to improvements in surgical appliances of that class wherein means are provided for sustaining broken bones in their normal position after having been readjusted. rlfhe objects of the iinprovementare: First, to provide Ineans applicable to a patient afflicted with fracture of the clavicle bone which will afford facility in the reduction of the fractured members to their normal position; and second, to afford a comfortable shackle for sustaining patients body within such limitations as will prevent displacement of reduced fracture of the clavicle bone.

The objects yof the invention are accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the appliance shown applied to a patient;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of one of the posterior supports with portions thereof broken away and showing the interior construction; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation projected from Fig'. 2, a port-ion being broken away.

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawings and designated thereon by corresponding` characters.

The invention is comprised of a pair of posterior supports l, the one being the counterpart of the other, and having; non-elastic straps 2 for limiting the same from spreadingl apart.

flach support consists of a splint 3, preferably a flat metallic plate, to each end of which is hinged a buckle 4 and along` one side of which, adjacent each end, is hinged a buckle 5. The splint having the buckles attached thereto is riveted to a thick felt pad 6. The assembly composed of the splint and pad is encased within a leather pocket T provided with slits 8 through which the buckles i and 5 protrude respcctively to the exterior of the pocket.

ln connection with each support is provided an anterior support 9 consisting of a tubular leather casing 1.0 with a filling 11 of hair. ln the ends of the anterior support are respectively secured straps l2 that have connection with the buckles 4 of the corresponding posterior support.

The posterior supports are connected together by means of the straps 2 previously 18, 1922. Serial No. 588,805.

referred to, the straps having connection at their respective ends with the corresponding; buckles 5 on said supports.

The straps 2 and l2 are preferably conipose-d of non-elastic flexible bands so that the several parts of the appliance which are held together by the bands will thereby -be held within definite limitation frein spreadinnl relat-iyely apart.

in utilizing' the appliance, as in a case of clavicle fracture, the posterior supports are positioned upon the scapula, while the patient is in a standing or sitting posture. The anterior supports are then buckled into connection with the corresponding posterior supports.V Generally, in' cases of clavical fracture, the shoulder slips forward, downward and inward, and to rectify such dislocation it is necessary to move the shoul der, upward, outward and backward, and when so set it is also necessary to sustain the fractured members securely in the position of their readjustinent until their union is naturally edected. By manipulating the straps 2 and 12 in connection with the support-ing members the patients body may be drawn into suoli position as to cause the fractured aernbers to reassuine their natural position to which they will be restricted for the required period of time necessary for recovery.

rlhe metallic splints 3 afford rigidity to the posterior supports, the pads 6 ease the pressure of the splints upon the back of the patient, and the leather pockets 7 and casings l0 admit of the preservation of a sanitary condition of the appliance.

lhat l claim is:

ln a clavicle splint of the class described, a pair of pads, brace members within said pads, auxiliary pads connected to the main pads and adapted to extend around and under the arms of the patient whereby said main pads will be positioned upon the scapulas of the patient, and adjustable connections secured to the main pads at points spaced from their adjacent inner edges whereby said main pads may be drawn together and rocked and the shoulders of theI patient drawn backwardly.

ln testimony whereof I aix my signature.

ROY D. FOULKE. 

